AFTER LEAVING LEINSTER at the end of last season, Dominic Ryan has agreed terms with Leicester Tigers where he will work under Matt O’Connor again.
The flanker has signed a contract with the Premiership outfit and will play his rugby at Welford Road from next season after seeking ‘a new challenge’ in his career.
Ryan spent eight seasons at Leinster, making 113 appearances and scoring 18 tries after his debut in 2009, and enjoyed regular game time during O’Connor’s two seasons in charge of the province.
The one-time capped Ireland international will link up with the former Leinster head coach from July as he looks to reignite his career after a couple of frustrating seasons plagued by injury.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Leinster and Irish rugby over the last seven years, but it is time for a new challenge in my career and I’m delighted to sign for Leicester Tigers, as they are one of the great clubs in European rugby,” Ryan said.
“I’m also excited to work with Matty again because he had such a great impact on my career at Leinster.”
Ryan had found himself behind the likes of Dan Leavy, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan in the Leinster pecking order last term and his name was a notable exclusion from Leinster’s list of contract renewals shortly before the end of the campaign.
The former Gonzaga College student becomes the Tigers’ fifth signing of the summer following the arrivals of back-rower Sione Kalamafoni, winger Jonah Holmes and out-half Joe Ford and England international George Ford.
“Dom is an experienced professional who plays all across the back row,” O’Connor said.
“He wins collisions on both sides of the ball and comes from an environment that understands the narrative of winning.”
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Best of luck to him
All the best! Always liked him as a player
Shame he didn’t go to Ulster, they are crying out for a player like Dominic and he is a good enough player that with regular rugby he could still feature for Ireland. I hate seeing players with something to offer one of the Provence’s leave. But if he’s going abroad Leicester is an excellent move for him.
@Rory O’Kane: I’m not sure he wanted to go up North but, if Ulster never considered a move for him, it’s a bit of a mystery as to why?
@Rory O’Kane: O’Gara was interesting on that point on Off the Ball. He was talking about Leinster Munster specifically, but he was saying that while it’s ok for young lads, once a guy is a Munster player he’s a Munster player, he can’t move province (he then did an hilarious ‘Sandymount accent’).
Ryan is 27 and has 111 appearances for Leinster. The rivalry between Leinster and Ulster, though healthy, is such that he couldn’t really move North and become an Ulster player. Best start again.
@Conor Paddington: That may well be the case but there are plenty of guys who’ve made the move.
I just hope he gets a proper run of games without injury. He’s a quality player when match fit.
@Rory O’Kane: I think they were crying out for a big carrying hard runner like Deysel. Is Reidy not already quite similar to Ryan?
@Gustave H: not impossible, but there’d be very few guys with a hundred odd caps who have made the move.
Potentially a great move. Best of luck to him.
Delighted for him – hope it goes well and he can get a string of games without injury.
He is a moc type of forward. Hard one up runner who loves contact. He will suit MOC’s side. I hope he carves out a great few years in the premiership.